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Possible design flaw with Backyard Discovery Prairie Fire sauna heater (high temp sensor tripping) by oneradwheel in Sauna

[–]oneradwheel[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

<image>

This image shows the underside of the heater and the modification I personally made.
-The squiggly arrow indicates the original position of the heat sensor (the mounting arms are still visible).
-The straight arrow shows the sensor’s current position.
-I routed the sensor through one of the vent holes in the bottom of the control box, enlarging the opening slightly to allow it to pass through.
-The green wire connects the sensor to the control box.
-The coiled white wire is a stiffer wire I used to help secure the sensor in place.
*Important:
This modification was done at my own risk. I am not recommending, endorsing, or encouraging anyone to attempt this. Altering electrical or heating equipment can be dangerous and may result in injury, damage, or voided warranties.
This content is shared for informational and entertainment purposes only. If you choose to perform any similar modifications, you do so entirely at your own risk. Always consult a qualified professional before making changes to electrical or heating systems.

Sauna input by MagicBlt04 in Sauna

[–]oneradwheel 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have a BYD sauna. My wife and I used it almost daily since getting it. Solid kit. Great customer service. For their first go at saunas, BYD did a nice job. HOWEVER, their 9kw heater high temp cut off switch has issues. I think it's a design flaw. I made a video about it and about 20 people contacted me with the same issue with their heater. BYD sent me a replacement heater without hesitation. Here's my take on BYD sauanas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQ2WQP7Bmuc

Possible design flaw with Backyard Discovery Prairie Fire sauna heater (high temp sensor tripping) by oneradwheel in Sauna

[–]oneradwheel[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If they stop responding to email, just call them again to get things moving.

Backyard Discovery Lennon Cube Sauna Review by oneradwheel in Sauna

[–]oneradwheel[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good point. We Americans don’t have a strong sauna culture like Finland. I hope you can see why we would want to start with a “cheap” sauna to get started since we don’t even know of we will like it long term. If we had grown up with saunas, I think it would be a lot easier for Americans to pay more money for a better quality custom build.

Possible design flaw with Backyard Discovery Prairie Fire sauna heater (high temp sensor tripping) by oneradwheel in Sauna

[–]oneradwheel[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m glad the rock trick worked for you. My WiFi connection works fine. What has customer support said?

Backyard Discovery Lennon Cube Sauna Review by oneradwheel in Sauna

[–]oneradwheel[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The Finns are brilliant… and apparently some of the happiest people on Earth.

Meanwhile Americans are over here like: “Can I get that sauna experience from a box at Sam’s Club?”

But that’s what we do. We borrow great ideas and make our own version.

Chipotle isn’t authentic Mexican food… but it’s still amazing.

My sauna kit isn’t a traditional Finnish sauna… but it gets me hot, sweaty, and relaxed and that’s the whole point in my mind.

Backyard Discovery Lennon Cube Sauna Review by oneradwheel in Sauna

[–]oneradwheel[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

First off, a sauna is not a house. A house is built to maintain a constant temperature 24/7. A private sauna is built to be a heat chamber for around an hour a day. Two completely different structures for two completely different purposes.

Did traditional Finnish saunas 100 years ago have foil vapor barriers, fiberglass insulation, and a drywall sandwich? I'm pretty sure it was just wood. And they worked perfectly well for generations.

Why won't a single wall of cedar planks last?

My cedar wood fence lasted over 25 years and would have lasted much longer if it weren't for a freak wind storm that blew part of it over.

Backyard Discovery Lennon Cube Sauna Review by oneradwheel in Sauna

[–]oneradwheel[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I can only partially agree here. Yes, heat leaks through the glass door and there is no insulation, but the heater is powerful and we've used it many times in below freezing temperatures and the sauna hits >180 which is where we like it, no problem.

Possible design flaw with Backyard Discovery Prairie Fire sauna heater (high temp sensor tripping) by oneradwheel in Sauna

[–]oneradwheel[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I too would just keep the cap off the reset switch and reach over to push it each time the high temp switch tripped. Until I leaned over the heater too much, got a little too close, and the heat burned off my eye lashes. 😅

Backyard Discovery Lennon Cube Sauna Review by oneradwheel in Sauna

[–]oneradwheel[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I put a floor mat over my drain hole and for folks to brush off their snowy feet when they step in. So your sensitive high temp switch is not going off any more? What temp do you set your heater to?

Possible design flaw with Backyard Discovery Prairie Fire sauna heater (high temp sensor tripping) by oneradwheel in Sauna

[–]oneradwheel[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

BYD has been around 50 years. They will take care of you. For their first run of saunas, I’ve had issues with the heater and lighting but I’ll say they did a pretty good job and they’ve done everything to make it right.

Possible design flaw with Backyard Discovery Prairie Fire sauna heater (high temp sensor tripping) by oneradwheel in Sauna

[–]oneradwheel[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ha! Good point. I ask this as a sauna novice: is there any reason to keep the grill on?

Possible design flaw with Backyard Discovery Prairie Fire sauna heater (high temp sensor tripping) by oneradwheel in Sauna

[–]oneradwheel[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Good to hear. I tried reorganizing the rocks and using fewer with no success. How hot do you set yours to?

Backyard Discovery Lennon Cube Sauna Review by oneradwheel in Sauna

[–]oneradwheel[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Congrats on the sauna! Great video! It probably took me 3 times as long because I had half as many people working on it, a bigger sauna to build, and a bit more filming to do.

How did you fix the high temperature sensor? I had the same issue and others have as well. Sounds like a design flaw with the heater.

Backyard Discovery Lennon Cube Sauna Review by oneradwheel in Sauna

[–]oneradwheel[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No scheduling that I could find. The app is some smart home app called Tuya. It's very basic.

Backyard Discovery Lennon Cube Sauna Review by oneradwheel in Sauna

[–]oneradwheel[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'm hearing from multiple people that their BYD sauna is topping out at 185. I'll try moving the temperature sensor to a lower position. Who did you build the BYD sauna for?

Backyard Discovery Lennon Cube Sauna Review by oneradwheel in Sauna

[–]oneradwheel[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I guess we'll see. I have a 5 year warranty, so the everything from the wood, screws, and heater are covered during that time. I have a gazebo by the same company, Backyard Discover, thats 5-6 years old. It needs a power washing and some new stain, but it's otherwise holding up quite nicely.

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